taint
1[ teynt ]
/ teɪnt /
noun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to become tainted; spoil.
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Nearby words
Origin of taint
11325–75; conflation of Middle English taynt, aphetic variant of attaint struck, attainted, past participle of attainten to attaint; late Middle English taynt hue, tint < Anglo-French teint (< Latin tinctus, equivalent to ting(ere) to dye, tinge + -tus suffix of v. action); and teinte < Late Latin tincta inked stroke, noun use of feminine of past participle of tingere
Related forms
un·taint·ed, adjectiveun·taint·ing, adjectiveDefinition for taint (2 of 2)
taint
2or t'aint
noun Slang: Vulgar.
the area between the testicles or vulva and the anus; the perineum.
Origin of taint
2it ain’t (the one or the other), meaning it is the area in between
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for taint
British Dictionary definitions for taint
taint
/ (teɪnt) /
verb
to affect or be affected by pollution or contaminationoil has tainted the water
to tarnish (someone's reputation, etc)
noun
a defect or flawa taint on someone's reputation
a trace of contamination or infection
Derived Forms
taintless, adjectiveWord Origin for taint
C14: (influenced by attaint infected, from attain) from Old French teindre to dye, from Latin tingere to dye
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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